Mast pole derrick



J. H. WILSON MAST POLE DERRICK Filed Jan. 16, 1940 E QE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 13, 143. J. H. WILSON MAST POLE DERRICK Filed Jan. 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iutlillniir illllilitlm 744w MW By 9k Patented Apr. .13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAST POLE DERRICK John Hart Wilson, Wichita Falls, Tex.

Application January-16, 1940, Serial No. 314,164

Claims.

This invention relates to derricks and more particularly to a mast pole derrick especially adapted for use in the oil fields in connection with cleaning out wells and pulling rods and tubing.

The general object of the invention is the provision of a mast pole derrick of this type which may be readily transported and erected, but which is at the samae time very sturdy and of relatively great height when set up for operation.

Derricks of the described portable type need not be as high as drilling derricks, but they should be of sumcient strength to enable the pulling of even the deeper wells, and they should also have suflicient height so that the rods and tubing can be pulled in what is known as doubles, that is, two sections at a time. The most common length of rods and tubing being about thirty feet, the total height of the derrick should be approximately eighty-five feet to be effective for the stated purpose. The difliculties attending the provision of a derrick of these specifications which would also be easily portable have been heretofore considered insurmountable.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention contemplates the provision of a derrick comprising two mast pole units, each adapted to be carried to and from the well at which they are used by means of separate trucks. Each unit consists of a plurality of telescoping sections, one of the units being somewhat longer than the other when extended. The longer unit is provided with the well pulling tackle,--cables, sheaves, etc.,-and also a hinged'platform which carries a wheeled dolly for supporting and stowing the rod sections as they are pulled from the well. This unit is carried by the larger main truck which also comprises a portable winch having drums for the operating cables as well as the lines used in tilting the longer mast pole unit and platform and extending the sections.

The shorter unit is adapted to be transported and erected by means of an auxilitry truck which is merely provided with a loading winch and may be disconnected and used for other purposes after the secondary mast pole unit is erected and joined to the longer primary unit to complete the derrick structure- In erecting the derrick, the telescoping sections of the two mast pole units are pulled out and blocked against retraction, and the units are secured together in spaced relation by means of various girts and diagonal braces. The hinged platform which has been swung outwardly from the main unit is disposed with its outer end resting upon the top of the auxiliary pole, and the rod carrying dolly 'is moved into position on the platform for receiving the rods as they are pulled from the well. After the rods are-pulled and hung upon a rack provided on the dolly, the latter is rolled aside and the tubing is then pulled and racked.

After the operations at a given well are completed, the derrick is dismantled and collapsed upon the trucks with equal facility and transported to a new location.

In an alternative form of the invention, the two mast pole units may be of equal height, and in either embodiment certain of the poles, if desired, may be hinged to a stationary base instead of a portable one.

More specific objects of the invention include the'provision of the traveling rod supporting dolly on the. collapsible platform, means for extending and connecting the mast pole units, and other features which will become apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a derrick constituted and erected in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the main mast pole of the derrick;

Figure 3 is a rear View of the derrick, portions of the front mast pole being omitted for the sake of cleamess of illustration;

Figure 4 is a very diagrammatic view in side elevation on a reduced scale of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4A is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation of the upper end of the derrick of Fig. 4.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified connection at the base of one of the mast pole units;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the upper end of the derrick showing the operating platform and dolly;

Figure '7 is a detail view in vertical section of the rack for supporting the rods upon the dolly,

taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 6;

3 Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken through one of the legs of one of the mast pole units substantially as on line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a view in horizontal section taken on line 99 of Figure 8; V

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 8 but taken substantially on line 1-1 of Figure 2;

matic view in side elevation of the main pole carrying truck, with the pole and platform collapsed and folded upon the same for trans- -portation.

The derrick in its preferred form is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral III in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings. The showing is somewhat diagrammatic, but the more important details of construction are clearly shown in other figures of the drawings. The derrick comprises essentially the two extensible mast pole units H and I2 which are adapted to be carried by the winch truck l4 and the auxiliary truck l5 respectively.

The main mast pole unit ll comprises two parallel legs, each of which consists of a plurality of telescoping sections. Each of these sections comprise a tubular member, the members l6 being the largest and adapted to receive the intermediate sections H, which in turn are adapted to receive the smallest uppermost sections I8. The lower sections 16 are rigidly connected by means of a bottom sill member 20 and a plurality of cross connecting members 2|, as well as the diagonal struts 22, so as to form a rigid unit. The upper ends of the pair of intermediate members I! are connected by the transverse member 23 and the uppermost units l8 are connected at their upper ends by the crosspiece 24, upon which is mounted the multiple sheave 25, about portions of which the main pulling cables may run. When collapsed, the sections l1 and I8 are received within the lowermost sections I6, and these sections lie substantially horizontally upon the main winch truck I4, as clearly shown in.

Figure 12 of the drawings. A bracket 21 supports the forward or upper end of the collapsed end of the unit H, and the unit is pivotally supported near its lower end upon the supporting arms 28 by means of pivot pins 29 carried by the sleeves 30 secured to each leg of the unit. It may be incidentally remarked that in order to provide an eighty-five foot derrick, the overall length of the collapsed mast pole on the truck need be less than forty feet.

Upon arrival at the point of operations, such as an oil well which is to .be pulled, the truck I4 is disposed adjacent the sills or framing 32, and the collapsed main mast pole unit II is raised about the pivot 29 so that the lower end thereof rests firmly upon one corner of the sill framing 32. In order to raise the mast pole unit, a line from the drum 36, which is the main winding drum, is passed over the multiple sheave 31 secured upon a lower portion of the truck and around the multiple sheave 38 secured upon the sill member 20 of the mast pole unit. The end of the line is fastened either to the truck body or the pole and arranged to provide a multiple line pull. By referring to Figures 1 and 12 of the drawings, itjzill beclearly understood how the line 35 serves to draw the lower end of the mast pole downwardly and raise the main portion up to the posi tion shown in Figure 1.

a line 40 which passes upwardly around the small pulleys or sheaves 42 secured in brackets 43 formed on the collars 44 at the upper ends of the sections l6. These collars are secured to the ends of the sections l6 as by means of the fastening elements 4| disposed at intervals about the collar. An inwardly directed flange 46 is formed at the top of the collar and provides a shoulder which overlies the upper end of the section 16 and prevents downward movement of the collar thereon. The inner peripheral margin of the flange 46 is circular, but eccentric with respect to the main portion of the collar and the unit I6, and is adapted to embrace the tubular telescoping section II, which is thus held away from the wall of section l5 at one side to accommodate the cable or line 40. A slot 46' is formed in the flange 46, just beneath the pulley or sheave 42, through which the line 40 may pass into the section IS. The bight of the line 40 carries the block 45 and a line from the drum on the winch truck may be passed around one of the sections of the pulley 38 and secured to the block 45. Upon winding in this line, the intermediate sections I! carrying the upper sections l8 of the unit are drawn upwardly out of the base sections Hi. When the lower ends of the sections H, which are provided with the eccentric stepped shoes 41, are drawn upwardly beyond the location of the blocking pins 48, the pins are inserted through the aligned openings in the section l6 and beneath the notches 41' in the shoe, and serve to efiectively lock the extended intermediate section in its raised position. This is clearly shown in Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings.

A similar arrangement is employed for projecting the upper sections I8 from the intermediate sections H, a line 40' being provided with a block 45' to which a line from the winch may be secured, and the upper ends of the intermediate sections ll being provided with sheaves 42' around which the ends of the line 40' are passed to be secured to the upper members l8 just as in the case of the intermediate sections l1. Stop pins 48' are employed to block the descent of the upper members. [8 when they are extended. After the main or forward mast pole unit II has been extended to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings and blocked against retraction, the upper portions of the structure may be further braced by means of the diagonal turnbuckle rods 49.

The auxiliary truck l6 which carries the rear mast pole I2 is then backed up to the other edge of the framing 32 and the retracted unit, consisting of the lower tubular sections 50 and the upper sections 5|, are raised to substantially vertical position by a similar system of lines and sheaves indicated generally at 53 and including a small loading winch of conventional type indicated diagrammatically at 54. The two sections of this rear unit are then extended in exactly the same manner as described in connection with the corresponding sections of the forward unit II, and the same'refernce numerals are employed in designating the braces and tackle employed in erecting the two units. The pivotal connections 54' are preferably made readily detachable. and the lines 53 may be detached from the truck l5 and suitably secured, so that the auxiliary truckmay be driven away and used for other purposes, as already described.

Alternatively, the lower section 50 of the rear unit I2 may be pivoted or hinged to the platform 32 by means of the hinge or pintle means 52.

Then, in erecting this unit, it may be swung erect by suitable tackle, while telescoped and then extended when in the proper vertical position in the same way as described in connection with the first embodiment.

Pivotally secured to collars 55' carried by the upper ends of members I! of the forward unit H as at 55 is the operating platform 56. This platform is adapted to fold against the collapsed unit i i and take the position shown in Figure 12 of the drawings during transportation of the equipment. When the forward mast pole unit H is erected and extended, however, the platform 56 is raised to a horizontal position as by means of the catline 51 which is preferably trained about a cathead 51' driven from the power plant on the winch truck M. The outward end of the platform rests upon the top of the upper section of the rear mast pole unit l2. This platform is of a very sturdy construction and is securely attached to the derrick.

When the two units are erected, they are interconnected and braced by means of the girts 58 and the diagonal braces 59. The upper portions of the derrick arealso braced and strengthened by means of the braces 60 connecting the upper portions of the sections i8 and 5i and the crossbrace 6| attached thereto. The bracing elements, if desired, may be kept secured to the main pole H, and raised and lowered therewith, and extended and connected to the auxiliary unit l2 after the units are raised.

The predetermined slight inclination of the forward mast pole unit H is such that the upper operating sheave 25 is above the center line of the well and the cable 65 carrying the block 66 is trained about the sheave 25 and about the main winding drum 36 carried by the main truck It in the usual way. A cable 61 is suspended from the hook of the block 66 and is adapted to be secured to the rods and tubing to be pulled from the well.

The platform 56 comprises two parallel beams 19 connected adjacent their rear ends by the cross-beam 12, the ends of which rest upon the upper ends of the members 5i of the rear mast pole unit l2. The forward ends of the beams I0 are provided wtih the brackets 13 which provide the pivots 55 for the platform. Narrow walks are provided on three sides of the platform, and these are surrounded by the railings 16. Upon the beams I0 are laid a pair of rails [9 upon which the wheels I9 of the rod carrying dolly 80 are adapted to run. This dolly consists of ahollow frame open upon one side, having vertical elements 8| at its four comers and havingxU-fshaped horizontal members 83 and 84 at its lower and upper ends respectively. Rigidly secured within the upper iJ-shaped frame 84 of the dolly is the rod rack 85 consisting of a substantially U-shaped member having a series of fingers 86 extending from the rear portion 81 thereof. During pulling of the rods, the dolly will occupy a position' adjacent the forward end ofthe platform, and when the rods are successively pulled in double sections, these double sections are uncoupled from the well and suspended by their upper ends between the fingers 86 of the dolly rack. One such rod is indicated diagrammatically in Figure 7 of the drawings at 90, the coupling 9| at the upper end thereof serving to support the same from the rack. When the rods are all withdrawn and the dolly rack is full,

the dolly is rolled. rearwardly to the position shown in Figures 1 and 6 of the drawings and in double sections as shown in Figure 1.

the double rod sections occupy the positions shown in Figure 1.

With the rod sections safely stowed out of the way, the well tubing is now pulled and racked The lower ends of the tubing may rest upon the block or platform 96 and the upper ends may lean against the beams Ill of the platform 56 or racked in any suitable manner.

In order to provide a ready access to the operating platform 56, the steps or rungs 98 may be provided on the lower sections it and 50 of the mast pole units and the ladders 99 secured to the interremoving the braces and struts, then retracting the telescoping sections, and lowering the bottom sections into position on the respectiv trucks l4 and I5.

In Figure 4 there is diagrammatically shown an embodiment of the invention in which the rear or auxiliary unit H2 is comprised of three sections I00, HH, and H12, which correspond to the sections H6, H1, and H8 of the main unit Ill, making the two mast pole units of equal height. The two units are connected at the top as by means of the transverse shaft H9 passing through the ears I20 at the top of each unit HI and H2, respectively. A multiple sheave I25 is rotatably mounted upon the transverse shaft and is designed to serve the same purposes as the sheave 25 of the embodiment previously described. The units are adapted to be respec tively transported by the trucks H4 and H5 and are set on the same base 32 and connected by similar braces and girts 51, 58, 59, and 59', all as diagrammatically shown in Figure 4.

It will thus be seen that by means of the present invention there has been provided a well pulling derrick which is well adapted for the particular purpose described, but which may obviously be employed either with or without modification for various other purposes which may occur to one skilled in the art.

Changes and modifications may be made in the illustrated embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a derrick of the class described, in combination, a pair of extensible mast pole units which are independently portable, means for independently extending and retracting said units, and means for connecting and bracing them in upwardly extending, spaced apart positions, each of said imits comprising a pair of parallel, rigidly connected, tubular sections and one or more other pairs of parallel connected tubular sections telescoping therewith.

2. In a. derrick of the class described, in combination, a pair of extensible mast pole units which are independently portable, means for extending and retracting said units, and means for connecting and bracing them in upwardly extending, spaced apart positions, each of said units comprising a pair of parallel, rigidly connected, tubular sections and one or more other pairs of parallel connected .tubular sections telescoping therewith, one of said units being longer than the other and carrying a sheave at the top-thereof,

and tackle associated with said sheave for pulling a well or the like.

3. In a derrick of the class described, in combination, a pair of extensible mast pole units which are independently portable, means for extending and retracting said units, and means for connecting and bracing them in upwardly extending, spaced apart positions, each of said units comprising a pair of parallel, rigidly cpnnected, tubular sections and one or more other pairs of parallel connected tubular sections telescoping therewith, one of said units being longer than the other and carrying a sheave at the top thereof, and tackle associated with said sheave for pulling a well or the like, certain of the interconnecting and bracing means being relatively permanently attached to one of said units and adapted to be transported therewith.

4. In a derrick of the class described, in combination, a pair of extensible mast pole units which are independently portable, means for extending and retracting said,units, and means for connecting and bracing them in upwardly extending, spaced apart positions, each of said units comprising a pair of parallel, rigidly connected, tubular sections and one or more othen pairs of parallel connected tubular-sections telescoping therewith, one of said units being longer than the other and carrying a sheave at the top thereof, tackle associated with said sheave for pulling a well or the like, a platform pivoted to the longer mast pole unit and supported at its outer end upon the top of the other unit.

5. In a derrick of the class described, in combination, a pair of extensible mast pole units which are independently portable, means for extending and retracting said units, and means for connecting and bracing them in upwardly extending, spaced apart positions, each of said units comprising a pair of parallel, rigidly connected, tubular sections and one or more other pairs of parallel connected tubular sections telescoping therewith, one of said units being longer than the other by the length of a section and carrying a sheave at the top thereof, tackle associated with said sheave for pulling a well or the like, a platform pivoted to the top of an intermediate section of the longer mast pole unit and supported at its outer end upon the top of the uppermost section of the other unit.

6. A porable derrick outfit for pulling wells or like purposes, comprising, in combination, a pair of extensible mast pole units which are independently portable, means for extending and retract ng said un ts, and means for connecting and bracing them in upwardly extending, spaced apart pos tions, each of said units comprising a pa r of parallel rigidly connected tubular sections and one or more other pairs of parallel connected tubular sections telescoping therewith, a pair of wheeled vehicles, means for respectively pivoting the lowermost sections of said units to said vehicles whereby the retracted units may be swung to a substantially horizontal position thereon, and hoisting means on each of said vehicles for erecting said units.

7. A portable derrick outfit for pulling wells or like purposes, comprising, in combination, a pair of extensible mast pole units which are independently portable, means for extending and retracting said units, and means for connecting and bracing them in upwardly extending, spaced apart positions, each of said units comprising a pair of parallel, rigidly connected, tubular sections and one or more other pairs of parallel connected tubular sections telescoping therewith, a platform pivoted to one of said units, a pair of wheeled vehicles, means for respectively pivoting the lowermost sections of said units to said vehicles whereby the retracted units may be swung to a substantially horizontal position thereon, hoisting means on each of said vehicles for swinging said units to vertical positions and extending the telescoping sections, and hoisting means on one of the vehicles for swinging said platform into operative position.

8. A portable derrick outfit for pulling wells or like purposes, comprising, in combination, a pair of extensible mast pole units which are independently portable, both of said units being of the same length, means for extending and retracting said units, and means for connecting said units at the tops and means for bracing them in upwardly convergent positions, each of said units comprising a pair of parallel rigidly connected tubular sections and one or more other pairs of parallel connected tubular sections telescoping therewith, a pair of wheeled vehicles, means for respectively pivoting the lowermost sections of said units to said vehicles whereby the retracted units may be swung to a substantfally horizontal position thereon, and hoisting means on each of said vehicles for erecting said units.

9. A portable derrick outfit for pulling wells or like purposes, comprising, in combination, a pair of extensible mast pole units which are independently portable, means for extending and retracting said units, and means for connecting and bracing them in upwardly extending, spaced apart positions, each of said units comprising a pair of parallel, rigidly connected, tubular sections and one or more other pairs of parallel connected tubular sections telescoping therewith, one of said units being longer than the other and carrying a sheave at the top thereof, tackle associated with said sheave for pulling a Well or the like, a platform pivoted to the longer mast pole unit, a pair of wheeled vehicles, means for respectively pivoting the lowermost-sections of said units to said vehicles whereby the retracted units may be swung to a substantially horizontal position thereon, hoisting means on each of said vehicles for swinging said units to vertical posit ons and ext nding the telescoping sections, hoisting means on the vehicle, which is adapted to carry the longer unit, for swinging said platform into operative position, a main winding drum on said last named vehicle for operating the well pulling tackle, and a detachable connection between said other vehicle and the shorter unit, whereby said vehicle may be disconnected and otherwise employed while the pulling operations are efiected by the winding means on the main vehicle.

10. In a derrick of the class described, in combination, a base, a pair of extensible mast pole units are independently portable, means for pivoting one of said units to said base, means for pivotally mounting the other of said units upon a wheeled vehicle, means for extending and retracting said units, and means for connecting and bracing them in upwardly extending, spaced apart positions, each of said units comprisinga pair of parallel, rigidly connected, tubular sections and one or more other pairs of parallel connected tubular sections telescoping therewith.

JOHN HART WILSON. 

